I need your help: Steph Ryan

By
NATALIE KOTSIOS

NATIONALS candidate for Euroa Steph Ryan has made a public appeal for help following the Liberal Party’s plans to run against her.

An open letter appeared on Ms Ryan’s website yesterday, simply titled “I need your help” which called for volunteers and donations to help her campaign.

It follows the Liberals’ decision on Tuesday to run a candidate in the new seat, which is notionally Nationals-held, taking in much of retiring MP Bill Sykes’ seat of Benalla.

The decision has earned the wrath of The Nationals’ leader and Deputy Premier Peter Ryan who saw it as a breach of the Coalition agreement.

“The Nationals currently represent the majority of communities and voters in the electorate of Euroa and — through the hard work of Bill Sykes, Paul Weller and Jeanette Powell — have been a strong voice for these communities,” Ms Ryan’s letter read.

“I’ll be standing up for local communities in Euroa and doing everything that I can to make sure the electorate retains a strong voice in state Parliament.

“I can’t do it alone — I’m asking you to show your support for my campaign by registering to volunteer, suggest an event that I can attend, make a donation or just share my page to show your support.”

The Border Mail reported yesterday that the Liberals’ chairman of the Indi federal electorate conference, Tony Schneider, was the party’s likely candidate for Euroa, to be officially announced next month.